Henry Steere, Esq.
(1828-1899)
18 June 1862

Volume 7, page 159, sitting number 8881.

Identified in the Silvy daybooks as Henry Steere, Esq.,' this is probably Henry Lee Steere, son of Lee and Ann Steere. He was baptised at Ockley in Surrey on 29 December 1828.

On 4 August 1857 he married Elizabeth Mary Fitzroy (1826-1906), eldest daughter of Lord Charles Fitzroy and Lady Anne née Cavendish, and granddaughter of the Duke of Grafton. The marriage produced one son, Henry Charles Lee Steere. 

In 1881, Mr and Mrs Lee Steere were living at 'The Cottage,' Oakley Green, Surrey. Mr Lee Steere described himself as 'Guardian of the Parish, Oakley.' He gave as his place of birth 'Hale House, Wotton, Surrey.' Ten years later, the couple were still living at the same address, only now Mr Steere gave 'County Council, Surrey' as his profession.

According to one internet source, he was Master of the Warnham Staghounds. According to another, for many generations his family's seat was Jayes Park, near Ockley Green, and Mr Steere was Lord of the Manor of Ockley. His son, Henry Charles Lee Steere, was, according to his entry in Who Was Who (1929), 'a large landowner in Sussex and Surrey.'

Henry Lee Steere died on 17 June 1899 at his home, 'The Cottage' at Ockley in Surrey. He left an estate valued at £23,286.

A lengthy obituary appeared in the Surrey Mirror (23 June 1899), which read in part: 'Indeed, it may be said of Mr Lee Steere that during his life he in many ways rendered valued public service. He threw himself with great energy into all matters which he took up, and his knowledge of county business, and particularly of poor law, was considerable. Many other public institutions will also miss his wise counsels. Mr Lee Steere was a thorough out-and-out sportsman, and for many years till the time of his death he was Master, in succession to Mr Arthur Labouchere, of the Warnham Staghounds, which were originally formed by the father of the late Mr Farnell-Watson. He was a consistent supporter of the Conservative party, whose interests, more especially in his own particular neighbourhood, he lost no opportunity of furthering [...]. The deceased gentleman was also for a time a member of the original Dorking Volunteer Corps, which was formed in the year 1859. Mr Lee Steere was a man of very kindly disposition, and because he was thoroughly straighforward and upright in all his dealings, he was the first to recognise and appreciate these qualities in others.'

A detailed description of his funeral appeared in the same newspaper on 27 June 1899.